Method of making a multi-phase aggregate using a multi-stage process

ABSTRACT

A method of making an aggregate comprising at least a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase is disclosed. The method involves introducing a first feedstock into a first stage of a multi-stage reactor, and introducing a second feedstock into the reactor at a location downstream of the first stage. The first and second feedstock comprise a carbon black-yielding feedstock, and at least one feedstock also comprises a silicon-containing compound. The reactor is operated at a sufficient temperature to decompose the silicon-containing compound and to pyrolize the carbon black-yielding feedstock. An additional method is disclosed which involves making an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase using multi-stage reactor having at least three stages for introducing a feedstock, wherein at least one of the feedstocks comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock and wherein at least one of the feedstock comprises a silicon-containing compound. Besides producing the aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase, silica and/or carbon black may also result from the processes of the present invention. A further method is disclosed which involves making an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a metal-containing species phase using a multi-stage reactor having at least two stages for introducing feedstocks, wherein at least one of the feedstocks comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock and where at least one of the feedstocks comprises a metal-containing compound. The aggregates of the present invention when incorporated into elastomeric compositions preferably lead to improved wet skid resistance properties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of making an aggregate using a multi-stage process. In particular, the process relates to a method of making an aggregate comprising at least a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase using a multi-stage reactor. The present invention also relates to a method of making an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a metal-containing species phase. The present invention further relates to the use of one or more of these aggregates in compositions such as elastomeric compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carbon blacks are widely used as pigments, fillers, and reinforcing agents in the compounding and preparation of rubber and other elastomeric compounds. Carbon blacks are particularly useful as reinforcing agents in the preparation of elastomeric compounds used in the manufacture of tires.

Carbon blacks are generally produced in a furnace-type reactor by pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock with hot combustion gases to produce combustion products containing particulate carbon black. Carbon black exists in the form of aggregates. The aggregates, in turn are formed of carbon black particles. However, carbon black particles do not generally exist independently of the carbon black aggregate. Carbon blacks are generally characterized on the basis of analytical properties, including, but not limited to, particle size and specific surface area; aggregate size, shape, and distribution; and chemical and physical properties of the surface. The properties of carbon blacks are analytically determined by tests known to the art. For example, nitrogen adsorption surface area (measured by ASTM test procedure D3037-Method A) and cetyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide adsorption value (CTAB) (measured by ASTM test procedure D3765 09.01!), are measures of specific surface area. Dibutylphthalate absorption of the crushed (CDBP) (measured by ASTM test procedure D3493-86) and uncrushed (DBP) carbon black (measured by ASTM test procedure D2414-93), relates to the aggregate structure. The bound rubber value relates to the surface activity of the carbon black. The properties of a given carbon black depend upon the conditions of manufacture and may be modified, e.g., by altering temperature, pressure, feedstock, residence time, quench temperature, throughput, and other parameters.

It is generally desirable in the production of tires to employ carbon black-containing compounds when constructing the tread and other portions of the tire. For example, a suitable tread compound will employ an elastomer compounded to provide high abrasion resistance and good hysteresis balance at different temperatures. A tire having high abrasion resistance is desirable because abrasion resistance is proportional to tire life. The physical properties of the carbon black directly influence the abrasion resistance and hysteresis of the tread compound. Generally, a carbon black with a high surface area and small particle size will impart a high abrasion resistance and high hysteresis to the tread compound. Carbon black loading also affects the abrasion resistance of the elastomeric compounds. Abrasion resistance increases with increased loading, at least to an optimum point, beyond which abrasion resistance actually decreases.

The hysteresis of an elastomeric compound relates to the energy dissipated under cyclic deformation. In other words, the hysteresis of an elastomeric composition relates to the difference between the energy applied to deform the elastomeric composition and the energy released as the elastomeric composition recovers to its initial underformed state. Hysteresis is characterized by a loss tangent, tan δ, which is a ratio of the loss modulus to the storage modulus (that is, viscous modulus to elastic modulus). Tires made with a tire tread compound having a lower hysteresis measured at higher temperatures, such as 40° C. or higher, will have reduced rolling resistance, which in turn, results in reduced fuel consumption by the vehicle using the tire. At the same time, a tire tread with a higher hysteresis value measured at low temperature, such as 0° C. or lower, will result in a tire with high wet traction and skid resistance which will increase driving safety. Thus, a tire tread compound demonstrating low hysteresis at high temperatures and high hysteresis at low temperatures can be said to have a good hysteresis balance.

There are many other applications where it is useful to provide an elastomer exhibiting a good hysteresis balance but where the abrasion resistance is not an important factor. Such applications include but are not limited to tire components such as undertread, wedge compounds, sidewall, carcass, apex, bead filler and wire skim; engine mounts; and base compounds used in industrial drive and automotive belts.

Silica is also used as a reinforcing agent (or filler) for elastomers. However, using silica alone as a reinforcing agent for elastomer leads to poor performance compared to the results obtained with carbon black alone as the reinforcing agent. It is theorized that strong filler--filler interaction and poor filler-elastomer interaction accounts for the poor performance of silica. The silica-elastomer interaction can be improved by chemically bonding the two with a chemical coupling agent, such as bis (3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetra-sulfane, commercially available as Si-69 from Degussa AG, Germany. Coupling agents such as Si-69 create a chemical linkage between the elastomer and the silica, thereby coupling the silica to the elastomer.

When the silica is chemically coupled to the elastomer, certain performance characteristics of the resulting elastomeric composition are enhanced. When incorporated into vehicle tires, such elastomeric compounds provide improved hysteresis balance. However, elastomer compounds containing silica as the primary reinforcing agent exhibit low thermal conductivity, high electrical resistivity, high density, and poor processability.

When carbon black alone is used as a reinforcing agent in elastomeric compositions, it does not chemically couple to the elastomer but the carbon black surface provides many sites for interacting with the elastomer. While the use of a coupling agent with carbon black might provide some improvement in performance to an elastomeric composition, the improvement is not comparable to that obtained when using a coupling agent with silica.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a method of making an aggregate comprising at least a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase using a multi-stage reactor. Another feature of the present invention is to provide a method of making at least an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a metal-containing species phase.

An additional feature of the present invention is to improve wet skid resistance by incorporating the aggregates into an elastomeric composition.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention relates to a method of making an aggregate comprising at least a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase, and optionally also making carbon black and/or silica. In the method, a first feedstock is introduced into a first stage of a multi-stage reactor. The first feedstock comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock, a silicon-containing compound or a mixture thereof. The method further includes the step of introducing a second feedstock into the reactor at a location downstream of the first stage. The second feedstock comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock, a silicon-containing compound, or a mixture thereof, with the understanding that if the first feedstock contains only a carbon black-yielding feedstock (and not a silicon-containing compound), then the second feedstock comprises a mixture of a carbon black-yielding feedstock and a silicon-containing compound. At least one feedstock, either the first feedstock or the second feedstock, comprises at least a carbon black-yielding feedstock and at least one of the feedstocks, the first or the second feedstock, comprises a silicon-containing compound. The multi-stage reactor is maintained at a sufficient temperature to decompose the silicon-containing compound and/or to pyrolize the carbon black-yielding feedstock.

The present invention further relates to a method of making an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase and optionally also making carbon black and/or silica, wherein a multi-stage reactor is used having at least three stages for introducing feedstocks into the reactor. The second and third stages as well as any additional stages are located downstream of the first stage. Each of the feedstocks introduced into the stages can comprise a carbon black-yielding feedstock, a silicon-containing compound, or a mixture thereof.

At least one of the stages comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock and at least one of the stages comprises a silicon-containing compound. The reactor is maintained at a sufficient temperature to decompose the silicon-containing compound and to pyrolize the carbon black-yielding feedstock.

In addition, the present invention relates to a method of making an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a metal-containing species phase and optionally also making carbon black and/or a metal oxide, wherein a multi-stage reactor is used having at least two stages for introducing feedstocks into the reactor. The second stage as well as any additional stages are located downstream of the first stage. Each of the feedstocks introduced into the stages can comprise a carbon black-yielding feedstock, a metal-containing compound, or a mixture thereof. One or more of the feedstocks can optionally contain a silicon-containing compound. At least one of the stages comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock and at least one of the stages comprises a metal-containing compound. The reactor is maintained at a sufficient temperature to decompose the metal-containing compound and to pyrolize the carbon black-yielding feedstock.

The aggregates made from the above-described methods can be incorporated into elastomeric compositions. These elastomeric compositions can have improved wet skid resistance compared to elastomeric compositions not having any aggregates comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase present.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are intended to provide further explanation of the present invention, as claimed. Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. The objectives and other advantages of the present invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the written description and appended claims.

The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and constitutes a part of this specification, illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figure is a schematic view of a portion of one type of a carbon black reactor which may be used to produce the aggregates of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in part, to methods of making an aggregate comprising at least a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase. Further, besides making an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase, the methods of the present invention can optionally also produce at the same time carbon black and/or silica which would be present with the aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase. Accordingly, when the aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase is discussed, it is to be understood that carbon black and/or silica may be additionally present. For purposes of the present invention, the aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase and made from the processes of the present invention can also be identified as a silicon-treated carbon black. In the aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase, a silicon-containing species, including but not limited to, oxides and carbides of silicon, may be distributed through at least a portion of the aggregate and is an intrinsic part of the aggregate which also contains the carbon phase. In other words, the silicon-treated carbon black or the aggregate does not represent a mixture of discrete carbon black aggregates and discrete silica aggregates. Rather, the silicon-treated carbon black of the present invention includes at least one silicon-containing region as part of the silicon-treated carbon black wherein the silicon-containing region is located at the surface of and/or within the silicon-treated carbon black. The silicon-containing species that is part of the aggregate of the present invention is not attached to a carbon black aggregate like a silane coupling agent, but actually is part of the same aggregate as the carbon phase. The disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/446,141, filed May 22, 1995, now allowed; Ser. No. 08/446,142, filed May 22, 1995; and Ser. No. 08/750,016 filed Nov. 22, 1996, which is a National Phase application of PCT Published Application No. WO 96/37547 are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

When the silicon-treated carbon black is examined under STEM-EDX, the silicon signal corresponding to the silicon-containing species is found to be present in individual carbon black aggregates. By comparison, for example, in a physical mixture of silica and carbon black, STEM-EDX examination reveals distinctly separate silica and carbon black aggregates.

The aggregates made with the processes of the present invention preferably lead to improved wet skid resistance properties in an elastomeric composition when the aggregates of the present invention are incorporated into the elastomeric composition.

With regard to a process of the present invention, the aggregates or the silicon-treated carbon blacks of the present invention may be obtained by manufacturing or forming the carbon black (i.e., the carbon phase) in the presence of one or more volatilizable silicon-containing compounds. A modular or "staged," furnace carbon black reactor as depicted in the Figure is preferably used. The furnace or reactor preferably has more than one stage or entry point for feedstocks. As depicted in the Figure, the reactor preferably has a combustion zone 1, with a zone of converging diameter 2; a feedstock injection zone with restricted diameter 3; and a reaction zone 4.

To produce the aggregates or the silicon-treated carbon blacks of the present invention with the reactor described above, hot combustion gases are generated in combustion zone 1 by contacting a liquid or gaseous fuel with a suitable oxidant stream such as air, oxygen, or mixtures of air and oxygen. Among the fuels suitable for use in contacting the oxidant stream in combustion zone 1, to generate the hot combustion gases, are included any readily combustible gas, vapor, or liquid streams such as natural gas, hydrogen, methane, acetylene, alcohols, or kerosene. It is generally preferred, however, to use fuels having a high content of carbon-containing components and in particular, hydrocarbons. The ratio of air-to-fuel varies with the type of fuel utilized. When natural gas is used to produce the carbon phase of the present invention, the ratio of air-to-fuel may be from about 10:1 to about 1000:1. To facilitate the generation of hot combustion gases, the oxidant stream may be pre-heated. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,952,087 and 3,725,103 are incorporated in their entirety by reference and describe carbon black-yielding feedstocks, reactor set-up, and conditions.

The hot combustion gas stream flows downstream from zones 1 and 2 into zones 3 and 4. The direction of the flow of hot combustion gases is shown in the Figure by the arrow. A first feedstock is introduced at location 6 and enters the feedstock injection zone 3 at entry point 9. In this embodiment, the feedstocks are introduced or injected into a preformed stream of hot combustion gasses flowing in a downstream direction. While the Figure depicts entry points 9 and 10 for introduction of the feedstock, the feedstocks can be introduced at any point in the reactor as long as there is a sufficient temperature and residence time for the silicon-treated carbon black to form before the quench location. The feedstock is injected into the gas stream preferably through nozzles designed for optimal distribution of the oil in the gas stream. Such nozzles may be either single or bi-fluid. Bi-fluid nozzles may use steam or air to atomize the fuel. Single-fluid nozzles may be pressure atomized or the feedstock can be directly injected into the gas stream. In the latter instance, atomization occurs by the force of the gas stream.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first feedstock contains a carbon black-yielding feedstock, a silicon-containing compound, or a mixture thereof. Also, the first feedstock, as well as all of the feedstocks described hereinafter, can contain additional materials or compositions which are commonly used to make conventional carbon black. One or more feedstocks can also contain a boron-containing compound.

Located downstream of the point where the first feedstock is introduced into the feedstock injection zone 3 of the reactor, a second feedstock is introduced, for example, through location 7 into the feedstock injection zone 3. The second feedstock can enter the feedstock injection zone for instance, at entry point 10. The second and subsequent feedstocks are preferably added at the zone of substantial reaction, which is where the earlier feedstocks will primarily react to form the aggregates. The second feedstock contains at least a carbon black-yielding feedstock, a silicon-containing compound, or a mixture thereof. As in the case of the first feedstock, other additional compounds or materials can also be included as part of the feedstock. Furthermore, the first feedstock and the second feedstock can be the same or different with respect to feedstocks.

When a two-stage reactor is used, for purposes of an embodiment of the present invention, if the first feedstock contains only a carbon black-yielding feedstock (and not a silicon-containing compound), then the second feedstock comprises a mixture of a carbon black-yielding feedstock and a silicon-containing compound. In other words, both feedstocks will contain a carbon black-yielding feedstock, and at least one feedstock will additionally contain a silicon-containing compound.

In addition, additional feedstocks can be introduced into the feedstock injection zone by additional entry points which can be located downstream of the first and/or second entry points for the first and second feedstocks. If necessary, a reactor can be modified to lengthen the feedstock injection zone to accommodate the additional entry points.

For purposes of the present invention where a two-stage reactor is used to make an aggregate not containing a metal-containing species phase, at least one of the feedstocks must include a carbon black-yielding feedstock and at least one of the feedstocks must contain a silicon-containing feedstock. Thus, and only as an example, the first feedstock can include a mixture of a carbon black-yielding feedstock and a silicon-containing compound while the second feedstock can also include a mixture of a carbon black-yielding feedstock and a silicon-containing compound. Preferably, the first feedstock and the second feedstock both contain a carbon black-yielding feedstock and the second feedstock also includes a silicon-containing compound. Accordingly, almost any combination of feedstocks is possible in the two-stage process as long as a carbon black-yielding feedstock and a silicon-containing compound are present either in the same or different feedstocks. As stated earlier, in a two-stage process, when the first feedstock contains only a carbon black-yielding feedstock (and not a silicon-containing compound), then the second feedstock comprises a mixture of a carbon black-yielding feedstock and a silicon-containing compound.

It is preferred that the first feedstock contain a carbon black feedstock and that at least about 5% by weight of the total amount of carbon black feedstock used in the process is present in the first feedstock. More preferably, from about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight, and even more preferably, from about 40% by weight to about 80% by weight of the total amount of carbon black feedstock used in said method is present in the first feedstock.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the aggregate or silicon-treated carbon black of the present invention can be made using a multi-stage reactor, wherein the reactor has at least three stages for introducing feedstocks into the reactor. The second and third stages, as well as any additional stages, are located downstream of the first stage. As stated earlier, these stages can be located anywhere downstream as long as there is a sufficient temperature and residence time for the silicon-treated carbon black to form before any quenching occurs. Each of the feedstocks introduced into the stages can comprise a carbon black-yielding feedstock, a silicon-containing compound, or a mixture thereof. At least one of the stages comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock and at least one of the stages, which can be the same stage containing the carbon black-yielding feedstock, comprises a silicon-containing compound. The reactor is maintained at a sufficient temperature to decompose the silicon-containing compound and to pyrolize the carbon black-yielding feedstock.

Referring to the Figure again, the mixture of feedstocks and hot combustion gases flows downstream through zones 3 and 4. In the reaction zone portion of the reactor, the portion of the feedstock which contains the carbon black-yielding feedstock is pyrolyzed to carbon black to form the carbon phase of the aggregate. The feedstock portion containing the silicon-containing compound undergoes volatilization and decomposes, and preferably reacts with other species in the reaction zone and forms a silicon-containing species phase. The presence of the carbon black-yielding feedstock and the silicon-containing compound in the reactor leads to the aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase. The silicon-containing species are an intrinsic part of the aggregate and are part of the same aggregate as the carbon phase. An example of a silicon-containing species is silica. Besides volatilizable compounds, decomposable compounds which are not necessarily volatilizable can also be used to yield the silicon-containing species phase of the aggregates of the present invention. As stated earlier, besides the formation of an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-treated species phase, carbon black and/or silica may additionally be formed. The carbon black and/or silica that may optionally be formed is like a by-product of the multi-phase aggregate formation. The additionally formation of carbon black and/or silica has added benefit when added to elastomeric compositions.

The reaction in the reaction zone is then arrested in the quench zone of the reactor. Quench 8 is located downstream of the feedstock entry points and the reaction zone and sprays a quenching fluid, generally water, into the stream of newly formed aggregates or silicon-treated carbon black and any carbon black and/or silica that may also be present. The quench serves to cool the aggregates or particles and to reduce the temperature of the gaseous stream and decrease the reaction rate. Q is the distance from the beginning reaction zone 4 to quench 8 and will vary according to the position of the quench. Optionally, quenching may be staged, or take place at several points in the reactor.

After the aggregates or particles are quenched, the cooled gases and the aggregates pass downstream into any conventional cooling and separating means whereby the aggregates and any carbon black and/or silica that may also be present are recovered. The separation of the aggregates from the gas stream is readily accomplished by conventional means such as a precipitator, cyclone separator, bag filter, or other means known to those skilled in the art. After the aggregates have been separated from the gas stream, they are optionally subjected to a pelletization step.

Useful volatilizable compounds include any compound, which is volatilizable at carbon black reactor temperatures. Examples include, but are not limited to, silicates such as tetraethoxy orthosilicate (TEOS) and tetramethoxy orthosilicate, silanes such as, tetrachloro silane, and trichloro methylsilane; and volatile silicone polymers such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (OMTS). The flow rate of the volatilizable compound will determine the weight percent of silicon in the silicon-treated carbon black. The weight percent of silicon in the silicon-treated carbon black should range from about 0.1% to about 25%, and preferably from about 0.5% to about 10%, and most preferably from about 2% to about 6% by weight of the aggregate. It has been found that injecting a silicon-containing compound into the carbon black reactor results in an increase in the structure (e.g., CDBP) of the product. This is desirable in many applications of carbon black.

Generally, if the silicon-containing compound is introduced substantially simultaneously with the carbon black-yielding feedstock, the silicon-containing species phase(s) are distributed throughout the aggregate. If the silicon-containing compound is introduced to the reaction zone at a point after the carbon black formation has commenced (i.e., during the formation of the carbon phase), but before the reaction stream has been subjected to the quench, the silicon-containing species phase is present primarily at or near the surface of the aggregate but is still part of the same aggregate as the carbon phase.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a metal-containing species phase can be made also using a multi-stage reactor, wherein the reactor has at least two stages for introducing the feedstocks into the reactor. The second, as well as any additional stages, are located downstream of the first stage. Each of the feedstocks introduced into the stages can comprise a carbon black-yielding feedstock, a metal-containing compound, or a mixture thereof. At least one of the feedstocks comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock and at least one of the feedstocks, which can be the same stage containing the carbon black-yielding feedstock, comprises a metal-containing compound. In addition, any one of the feedstocks can additionally contain a silicon-containing compound and/or boron-containing compound. The reactor is maintained at a sufficient temperature to decompose the metal-containing compound and to form a carbon phase (i.e., pyrolize the carbon black-yielding feedstock). If any silicon-containing compound or boron-containing compound is additionally present, the reactor should be also maintained at a sufficient temperature to decompose the silicon-containing compound or boron-containing compound. The aggregate formed by this process can be also considered a metal-treated carbon black or a metal-treated carbon black aggregate.

The metal-treated carbon black includes at least one metal-containing region concentrated at or near the surface of the aggregate (but part of the aggregate) or within the aggregate. The metal-treated carbon black thus contains at least two phases, one of which is carbon and the other of which is a metal-containing species. The metal-containing species phase that is part of the aggregate is not attached to a carbon black aggregate like a silica coupling agent, but actually is part of the same aggregate as the carbon phase. Further, it is within the bounds of the present invention to use more than one type of metal-containing compound in the feedstocks. If more than one type of metal-containing compound is used in the feedstocks, then an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and two or more different metal-containing species phases would be formed. In addition, if a silicon-containing compound is included in one of the feedstocks, then a silicon-containing species phase would also be formed as part of the same aggregate containing the carbon phase and the metal-containing species phase(s). In addition, a boron-containing compound can also be included in the feedstocks, and if present, would form a boron-containing species phase as part of the same aggregate containing the carbon phase and the metal-containing species phase. Accordingly, the metal-treated carbon black formed from the process of the present invention can have two or more different types of metal-containing species phases and/or additional non-metal species phases. The process used to make the aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase can be substantially used to make the aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a metal-containing species phase.

Besides producing an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a metal-containing species phase, carbon black and/or metal oxides may also result from the process of the present invention. One could consider the optional formation of one or more metal oxides and/or carbon black as by-products of the process which would also be present along with the aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a metal-containing species phase and would provide additional benefits when incorporated into elastomeric compositions.

The metal-containing species include compounds containing aluminum, zinc, magnesium, calcium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, nickel, zirconium, tin, antimony, chromium, neodymium, lead, tellurium, barium, cesium, iron, and molybdenum. Preferably, the metal-containing species phase is an aluminum- or zinc-containing species phase. The metal-containing species include, but are not limited to, oxides of metals.

Useful volatilizable compounds (i.e., the metal-containing compounds) include any compound, which is volatilizable at carbon black reactor temperatures. Examples include volatilizable or decomposable compounds containing aluminum, zinc, magnesium, calcium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, nickel, zirconium, tin, antimony, chromium, neodymium, lead, tellurium, barium, cesium, iron, and molybdenum. Specific examples include, but are not limited to, butoxides such as Aluminum III n-Butoxide and Aluminum III s-Butoxide, and propoxides, such as A1 III iso-propoxide. Examples of suitable zinc-containing compounds include, but are not limited to, zinc napthenate and zinc octoate. Other examples include, but are not limited to, magnesium ethoxide, magnesium isopropoxide, calcium propoxide, titanium isopropoxide, cobaltous napthenate, tin diethyl oxide, neodymium oxalate, and the like. The flow rate of the volatilizable compound will determine the weight percent of metal in the treated carbon black. The weight percent of the elemental metal (e.g., elemental aluminum or zinc) in the metal-treated carbon black generally ranges from about 0.1% to 25%, by weight of the aggregate, by may be adjusted to any desired level, such as up to 50% by weight, greater than 50% by weight, or up to 99% by weight of the aggregate.

Besides volatilizable compounds, decomposable metal-containing compounds which are not necessarily volatilizable can also be used to yield the metal-treated carbon black.

The aggregates made in accordance with the process of the present invention can be incorporated into elastomeric compounds which may be additionally compounded with one or more coupling agents to further enhance the properties of the elastomeric compound. Coupling agents, as used herein, include, but are not limited to, compounds that are capable of coupling fillers such as carbon black or silica to an elastomer. Coupling agents useful for coupling silica or carbon black to an elastomer, are expected to be useful with the silicon-treated carbon blacks. Useful coupling agents include, but are not limited to, silane coupling agents such as bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfane (Si-69), 3-thiocyanatopropyl-triethoxy-silane (Si-264, from Degussa AG, Germany), γ-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxy silane (A189, from Union Carbide Corp., Danbury, Conn.); zirconate coupling agents, such as zirconium dineoalkanolatodi(3-mercapto) propionato-O (NZ 66A, from Kenrich Petrochemicals, Inc., of Bayonne, N.J.); titanate coupling agents; nitro coupling agents such as N,N'-bis(2-methyl-2-nitropropyl)-1,6-diaminohexane(Sumifine 1162, from Sumitomo Chemical Co., Japan); and mixtures of any of the foregoing. The coupling agents may be provided as a mixture with a suitable carrier, for example X50-S which is a mixture of Si-69 and N330 carbon black, available from Degussa AG.

The silicon-treated carbon black incorporated in the elastomeric compound of the present invention may be oxidized and/or combined with a coupling agent. Suitable oxidizing agents include, but are not limited to, nitric acid and ozone. Coupling agents which may be used with the oxidized carbon blacks include, but are not limited to, any of the coupling agents set forth above.

Further, the silicon-treated carbon blacks and/or metal-treated carbon blacks of the present invention may have an organic group attached.

One process for attaching an organic group to an aggregate involves the reaction of at least one diazonium salt with an aggregate in the absence of an externally applied current sufficient to reduce the diazonium salt. That is, the reaction between the diazonium salt and the aggregate proceeds without an external source of electrons sufficient to reduce the diazonium salt. Mixtures of different diazonium salts may be used in the process of the invention. This process can be carried out under a variety of reaction conditions and in any type of reaction medium, including both protic and aprotic solvent systems or slurries.

In another process, at least one diazonium salt reacts with an aggregate in a protic reaction medium. Mixtures of different diazonium salts may be used in this process of the invention. This process can also be carried out under a variety of reaction conditions.

Preferably, in both processes, the diazonium salt is formed in situ. If desired, in either process, the carbon black product can be isolated and dried by means known in the art. Furthermore, the resultant carbon black product can be treated to remove impurities by known techniques. The various preferred embodiments of these processes are discussed below.

These processes can be carried out under a wide variety of conditions and in general are not limited by any particular condition. The reaction conditions must be such that the particular diazonium salt is sufficiently stable to allow it to react with the silicon-treated carbon black. Thus, the processes can be carried out under reaction conditions where the diazonium salt is short lived. The reaction between the diazonium salt and the silicon-treated carbon black occurs, for example, over a wide range of pH and temperature. The processes can be carried out at acidic, neutral, and basic pH. Preferably, the pH ranges from about 1 to 9. The reaction temperature may preferably range from 0° C. to 100° C.

Diazonium salts, as known in the art, may be formed for example by the reaction of primary amines with aqueous solutions of nitrous acid. A general discussion of diazonium salts and methods for their preparation is found in Morrison and Boyd, Organic Chemistry, 5th Ed., pp. 973-983, (Allynand Bacon, Inc. 1987) and March, Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structures, 4th Ed., (Wiley, 1992). According to this invention, a diazonium salt is an organic compound having one or more diazonium groups.

The diazonium salt may be prepared prior to reaction with the silicon-treated carbon black or, more preferably, generated in situ using techniques known in the art. In situ generation also allows the use of unstable diazonium salts such as alkyl diazonium salts and avoids unnecessary handling or manipulation of the diazonium salt. In particularly preferred processes, both the nitrous acid and the diazonium salt are generated in situ.

A diazonium salt, as is known in the art, may be generated by reacting a primary amine, a nitrite and an acid. The nitrite may be any metal nitrite, preferably lithium nitrite, sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite, or zinc nitrite, or any organic nitrite such as for example isoamylnitrite or ethylnitrite. The acid may be any acid, inorganic or organic, which is effective in the generation of the diazonium salt. Preferred acids include nitric acid, HNO₃, hydrochloric acid, HCl, and sulfuric acid, H₂ SO₄.

The diazonium salt may also be generated by reacting the primary amine with an aqueous solution of nitrogen dioxide. The aqueous solution of nitrogen dioxide, NO₂ /H₂ O, provides the nitrous acid needed to generate the diazonium salt.

Generating the diazonium salt in the presence of excess HCl may be less preferred than other alternatives because HCl is corrosive to stainless steel. Generation of the diazonium salt with NO₂ /H₂ O has the additional advantage of being less corrosive to stainless steel or other metals commonly used for reaction vessels. Generation using H₂ SO₄ /NaNO₂ or HNO₃ /NaNO₂ are also relatively non-corrosive.

In general, generating a diazonium salt from a primary amine, a nitrite, and an acid requires two equivalents of acid based on the amount of amine used. In an in situ process, the diazonium salt can be generated using one equivalent of the acid. When the primary amine contains a strong acid group, adding a separate acid may not be necessary. The acid group or groups of the primary amine can supply one or both of the needed equivalents of acid. When the primary amine contains a strong acid group, preferably either no additional acid or up to one equivalent of additional acid is added to a process of the invention to generate the diazonium salt in situ. A slight excess of additional acid may be used. One example of such a primary amine is para-aminobenzenesulfonic acid (sulfanilic acid).

In general, diazonium salts are thermally unstable. They are typically prepared in solution at low temperatures, such as 0-5° C., and used without isolation of the salt. Heating solutions of some diazonium salts may liberate nitrogen and form either the corresponding alcohols in acidic media or the organic free radicals in basic media.

However, the diazonium salt need only be sufficiently stable to allow reaction with the silicon-treated carbon black. Thus, the processes can be carried out with some diazonium salts otherwise considered to be unstable and subject to decomposition. Some decomposition processes may compete with the reaction between the silicon-treated carbon black and the diazonium salt and may reduce the total number of organic groups attached to the silicon-treated carbon black. Further, the reaction may be carried out at elevated temperatures where many diazonium salts may be susceptible to decomposition. Elevated temperatures may also advantageously increase the solubility of the diazonium salt in the reaction medium and improve its handling during the process. However, elevated temperatures may result in some loss of the diazonium salt due to other decomposition processes.

Reagents can be added to form the diazonium salt in situ, to a suspension of silicon-treated carbon black in the reaction medium, for example, water. Thus, a carbon black suspension to be used may already contain one or more reagents to generate the diazonium salt and the process accomplished by adding the remaining reagents.

Reactions to form a diazonium salt are compatible with a large variety of functional groups commonly found on organic compounds. Thus, only the availability of a diazonium salt for reaction with a silicon-treated carbon black limits the processes of the invention.

The processes can be carried out in any reaction medium which allows the reaction between the diazonium salt and the silicon-treated carbon black to proceed. Preferably, the reaction medium is a solvent-based system. The solvent may be a protic solvent, an aprotic solvent, or a mixture of solvents. Protic solvents are solvents, like water or methanol, containing a hydrogen attached to an oxygen or nitrogen and thus are sufficiently acidic to form hydrogen bonds. Aprotic solvents are solvents which do not contain an acidic hydrogen as defined above. Aprotic solvents include, for example, solvents such as hexanes, tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetonitrile, and benzonitrile. For a discussion of protic and aprotic solvents see Morrison and Boyd, Organic Chemistry, 5th Ed., pp. 228-231, (Allyn and Bacon, Inc. 1987).

The processes are preferably carried out in a protic reaction medium, that is, in a protic solvent alone or a mixture of solvents which contains at least one protic solvent. Preferred protic media include, but are not limited to water, aqueous media containing water and other solvents, alcohols, and any media containing an alcohol, or mixtures of such media.

The reaction between a diazonium salt and a silicon-treated carbon black can take place with any type of silicon-treated carbon black, for example, in fluffy or pelleted form. In one embodiment designed to reduce production costs, the reaction occurs during a process for forming silicon-treated carbon black pellets. For example, a silicon-treated carbon black product of the invention can be prepared in a dry drum by spraying a solution or slurry of a diazonium salt onto a silicon-treated carbon black. Alternatively, the silicon-treated carbon black product can be prepared by pelletizing a silicon-treated carbon black in the presence of a solvent system, such as water, containing the diazonium salt or the reagents to generate the diazonium salt in situ. Aqueous solvent systems are preferred. Accordingly, another embodiment provides a process for forming a pelletized silicon-treated carbon black comprising the steps of: introducing a silicon-treated carbon black and an aqueous slurry or solution of a diazonium salt into a pelletizer, reacting the diazonium salt with the silicon-treated carbon black to attach an organic group to the silicon-treated carbon black, and pelletizing the resulting silicon-treated carbon black having an attached organic group. The pelletized silicon-treated carbon black product may then be dried using conventional techniques.

In general, the processes produce inorganic by-products, such as salts. In some end uses, such as those discussed below, these by-products may be undesirable. Several possible ways to produce a silicon-treated carbon black product without unwanted inorganic by-products or salts are as follows:

First, the diazonium salt can be purified before use by removing the unwanted inorganic by-product using means known in the art. Second, the diazonium salt can be generated with the use of an organic nitrite as the diazotization agent yielding the corresponding alcohol rather than an inorganic salt. Third, when the diazonium salt is generated from an amine having an acid group and aqueous NO₂, no inorganic salts are formed. Other ways may be known to those of skill in the art.

In addition to the inorganic by-products, a process may also produce organic by-products. They can be removed, for example, by extraction with organic solvents. Other ways of obtaining products without unwanted organic by-products may be known to those of skill in the art and include washing or removal of ions by reverse osmosis.

The reaction between a diazonium salt and a silicon-treated carbon black forms a silicon-treated carbon black product having an organic group attached to the silicon-treated carbon black. The diazonium salt may contain the organic group to be attached to the silicon-treated carbon black. It may be possible to produce the silicon-treated carbon black products of this invention by other means known to those skilled in the art.

The organic group may be an aliphatic group, a cyclic organic group, or an organic compound having an aliphatic portion and a cyclic portion. As discussed above, the diazonium salt employed in the processes can be derived from a primary amine having one of these groups and being capable of forming, even transiently, a diazonium salt. The organic group may be substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched. Aliphatic groups include, for example, groups derived from alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and carbohydrates. Cyclic organic groups include, but are not limited to, alicyclic hydrocarbon groups (for example, cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls), heterocyclic hydrocarbon groups (for example, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, and the like), aryl groups (for example, phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, and the like), and heteroaryl groups (imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, furyl, indolyl, and the like). As the steric hinderance of a substituted organic group increases, the number of organic groups attached to the silicon-treated carbon black from the reaction between the diazonium salt and the silicon-treated carbon black may be diminished.

When the organic group is substituted, it may contain any functional group compatible with the formation of a diazonium salt. Preferred functional groups include, but are not limited to, R, OR, COR, COOR, OCOR, carboxylate salts such as COOLi, COONa, COOK, COO⁻ NR₄ ⁺, halogen, CN, NR₂, SO₃ H, sulfonate salts such as SO₃ Li, SO₃ Na, SO₃ K, SO₃ ⁻ NR₄ ⁺, OSO₃ H, OSO₃ ⁻ salts, NR(COR), CONR₂, NO₂, PO₃ H₂, phosphonate salts such as PO₃ HNa and PO₃ Na₂, phosphate salts such as OPO₃ HNa and OPO₃ Na₂, N=NR, NR₃ ⁺ X⁻, PR₃ ⁺ X⁻, S_(k) R, SSO₃ H, SSO₃ ⁻ salts, SO₂ NRR', SO₂ SR, SNRR', SNQ, SO₂ NQ, CO₂ NQ, S-(1,4-piperazinediyl)SR, 2-(1,3-dithianyl) 2-(1,3-dithiolanyl), SOR, and SO₂ R. R and R', which can be the same or different, are independently hydrogen, branched or unbranched C₁ -C₂₀ substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon, e.g., alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkylaryl, or substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl. The integer k ranges from 1-8 and preferably from 2-4. The anion X⁻ is a halide or an anion derived from a mineral or organic acid. Q is (CH₂)_(w), (CH₂)_(x) O(CH₂)₂, (CH₂)_(z) NR(CH₂)_(z), or (CH₂)_(x) S(CH₂)_(z), where w is an integer from 2 to 6 and x and z are integers from 1 to 6.

A preferred organic group is an aromatic group of the formula A_(y) Ar--, which corresponds to a primary amine of the formula A_(y) ArNH₂. In this formula, the variables have the following meanings: Ar is an aromatic radical such as an aryl or heteroaryl group. Preferably, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, biphenyl, pyridinyl, benzothiadiazolyl, and benzothiazolyl; A is a substituent on the aromatic radical independently selected from a preferred functional group described above or A is a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon radical (preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms), unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of those functional groups; and y is an integer from 1 to the total number of --CH radicals in the aromatic radical. For instance, y is an integer from 1 to 5 when Ar is phenyl, 1 to 7 when Ar is naphthyl, 1 to 9 when Ar is anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, or biphenyl, or 1 to 4 when Ar is pyridinyl. In the above formula, specific examples of R and R' are NH₂ --C₆ H₄ --, CH₂ CH₂ --C₆ H₄ --NH₂, CH₂ --C₆ H₄ --NH₂, and C₆ H₅.

Another preferred set of organic groups which may be attached to the silicon-treated carbon black are organic groups substituted with an ionic or an ionizable group as a functional group. An ionizable group is one which is capable of forming an ionic group in the medium of use. The ionic group may be an anionic group or a cationic group and the ionizable group may form an anion or a cation.

Ionizable functional groups forming anions include, for example, acidic groups or salts of acidic groups. The organic groups, therefore, include groups derived from organic acids. Preferably, when it contains an ionizable group forming an anion, such an organic group has a) an aromatic group and b) at least one acidic group having a pKa of less than 11, or at least one salt of an acidic group having a pKa of less than 11, or a mixture of at least one acidic group having a pKa of less than 11 and at least one salt of an acidic group having a pKa of less than 11. The pKa of the acidic group refers to the pKa of the organic group as a whole, not just the acidic substituent. More preferably, the pKa is less than 10 and most preferably less than 9. Preferably, the aromatic group of the organic group is directly attached to the silicon-treated carbon black. The aromatic group may be further substituted or unsubstituted, for example, with alkyl groups. More preferably, the organic group is a phenyl or a naphthyl group and the acidic group is a sulfonic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, a phosphonic acid group, or a carboxylic acid group. Examples of these acidic groups and their salts are discussed above. Most preferably, the organic group is a substituted or unsubstituted sulfophenyl group or a salt thereof; a substituted or unsubstituted (polysulfo)phenyl group or a salt thereof; a substituted or unsubstituted sulfonaphthyl group or a salt thereof; or a substituted or unsubstituted (polysulfo)naphthyl group or a salt thereof. A preferred substituted sulfophenyl group is hydroxysulfophenyl group or a salt thereof.

Specific organic groups having an ionizable functional group forming an anion (and their corresponding primary amines) are p-sulfophenyl (p-sulfanilic acid), 4-hydroxy-3-sulfophenyl (2-hydroxy-5-amnino-benzenesulfonic acid), and 2-sulfoethyl (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid). Other organic groups having ionizable functional groups forming anions can also be used.

Amines represent examples of ionizable functional groups that form cationic groups. For example, amines may be protonated to form ammonium groups in acidic media. Preferably, an organic group having an amine substituent has a pKb of less than 5. Quaternary ammonium groups (--NR₃ ⁺) and quaternary phosphonium groups (--PR₃ ⁺) also represent examples of cationic groups. Preferably, the organic group contains an aromatic group such as a phenyl or a naphthyl group and a quaternary ammonium or a quaternary phosphonium group. The aromatic group is preferably directly attached to the carbon black. Quaternized cyclic amines, and even quaternized aromatic amines, can also be used as the organic group. Thus, N-substituted pyridinium compounds, such as N-methyl-pyridyl, can be used in this regard. Examples of organic groups include, but are not limited to, (C₅ H₄ N)C₂ H₅ ⁺, C₆ H₄ (NC₅ H₅)⁺, C₆ H₄ COCH₂ N(CH₃)₃ ⁺, C₆ H₄ COCH₂ (NC₅ H₅)⁺, (C₅ H₄ N)CH₃ ⁺, and C₆ H₄ CH₂ N(CH₃)₃ ⁺.

An advantage of the silicon-treated carbon black products having an attached organic group substituted with an ionic or an ionizable group is that the silicon-treated carbon black product may have increased water dispersibility relative to the corresponding untreated carbon black. Water dispersibility of a silicon-treated carbon black product increases with the number of organic groups attached to the silicon-treated carbon black having an ionizable group or the number of ionizable groups attached to a given organic group. Thus, increasing the number of ionizable groups associated with the silicon-treated carbon black product should increase its water dispersibility and permits control of the water dispersibility to a desired level. It can be noted that the water dispersibility of a silicon-treated carbon black product containing an amine as the organic group attached to the silicon-treated carbon black may be increased by acidifying the aqueous medium.

Because the water dispersibility of the silicon-treated carbon black products depends to some extent on charge stabilization, it is preferable that the ionic strength of the aqueous medium be less than 0.1 molar. More preferably, the ionic strength is less than 0.01 molar.

When such a water dispersible silicon-treated carbon black product is prepared, it is preferred that the ionic or ionizable groups be ionized in the reaction medium. The resulting product solution or slurry may be used as is or diluted prior to use. Alternatively, the silicon-treated carbon black product may be dried by techniques used for conventional carbon blacks. These techniques include, but are not limited to, drying in ovens and rotary kilns. Overdrying, however, may cause a loss in the degree of water dispersibility.

In addition to their water dispersibility, silicon-treated carbon black products having an organic group substituted with an ionic or an ionizable group may also be dispersible in polar organic solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and formamide. In alcohols such as methanol or ethanol, use of complexing agents such as crown ethers increases the dispersibility of silicon-treated carbon black products having an organic group containing a metal salt of an acidic group.

Aromatic sulfides encompass another group of preferred organic groups. Silicon-treated carbon black products having aromatic sulfide groups are particularly useful in rubber compositions. These aromatic sulfides can be represented by the formulas Ar(CH₂)_(q) S_(k) (CH₂)_(r) Ar' or A--(CH₂)_(q) S_(K) (CH₂)_(r) Ar" wherein Ar and Ar' are independently substituted or unsubstituted arylene or heteroarylene groups, Ar" is an aryl or heteroaryl group, k is 1 to 8 and q and r are 0-4. Substituted aryl groups would include substituted alkylaryl groups. Preferred arylene groups include phenylene groups, particularly p-phenylene groups, or benzothiazolylene groups. Preferred aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl and benzothiazolyl. The number of sulfurs present, defined by k preferably ranges from 2 to 4. Preferred silicon-treated carbon black products are those having an attached aromatic sulfide organic group of the formula --(C₆ H₄)--S_(k) --(C₆ H₄)--, where k is an integer from 1 to 8, and more preferably where k ranges from 2 to 4. Particularly preferred aromatic sulfide groups are bis-para-(C₆ H₄)--S₂ --(C₆ H₄)-- and para-(C₆ H₄)--S₂ (C₆ H₅). The diazonium salts of these aromatic sulfide groups may be conveniently prepared from their corresponding primary amines, H₂ N--Ar--S_(k) --Ar'--NH₂ or H₂ N--Ar--S_(k) --Ar". Preferred groups include dithiodi-4,1-phenylene, tetrathiodi-4,1-phenylene, phenyldithiophenylene, dithiodi-4,1-(3-chlorophenylene), -(4-C₆ H₄)--S--S--(2--C₇ H₄ NS), -(4--C₆ H₄)--S--S--(4--C₆ H₄)--OH, -6-(2--C₇ H₃ NS)--SH, -(4-C₆ H₄)--CH₂ CH₂ --S--S--CH₂ CH₂ -(4--CH₄)--, -(4--C₆ H₄)--CH₂ CH₂ --S--S--S--CH₂ CH₂ --(4C₆ H₄)-,-(2--C₆ H₄)--S--S--(2--C₆ H)-, -(3--C₆ H₄)--S--S--(3--C₆ H₄)-,-6-(CrH₃ N₂ S), -6-(2--C₇ H₃ NS)--S--NRR' where RR' is --CH₂ CH₂ OCH₂ CH₂ -,-(4--C₆ H₄)--S--S--S--S--(4--C₆ H₄)-, -(4--C₆ H₄)--CH═CH₂,-(4--C₆ H₄)S--SO₃ H, -(4--C₆ H₄)--SO₂ NH-(4--C₆ H₄)--S--S--(4--C₆ H₄)-NHSO₂ -(4--C₆ H₄)-, -6-(2--C₇ H₃ NS)--S--S-2-(6C₇ H₃ NS)-, -(4--C₆ H₄)--S--CH₂ -(4--C₆ H₄)-, -(4--CrH₄)--SO₂ --S--(4--C₆ H₄)-, -(4--C₆ H₄)--CH₂ --S--CH₂ -(4C₆ H₄)-, -(3--C₆ H₄)--CH₂ --S--CH₂ -(3--C₆ H₄)-, -(4--C₆ H₄)--CH₂ --S--S--CH₂ -(4--C₆ H₄)-, -(3--C₆ H₄)--CH₂ --S--SCH₂ -(3--C₆ H₄)-,-(4--C₆ H₄)--S--NRR'where RR' is --CH₂ CH₂ OCH₂ CH₂ -7-(4--C₆ H₄)--SO₂ NH--CH₂ CH₂ S--S--CH₂ CH₂ --NHSO₂ -(4--C₆ H₄)-, -(4--C₆ H₄)-2-(1,3-dithianyl;), and -(4-C₆ H₄)--S--(1,4-piperizinediyl)S-(4--C₆ H₄)-.

Another preferred set of organic groups which may be attached to the carbon black are organic groups having an aminophenyl, such as (C₆ H₄)--NH₂, (C₆ H₄)--CH₂ --(C₆ H₄)--NH₂, (C₆ H₄)--SO₂ --(C₆ H₄)--NH₂. Preferred organic groups also include aromatic sulfides, represented by the formulas Ar--Sr--Ar' or Ar--S_(n) --Ar", wherein Ar and Ar' are independently arylene groups, Ar" is an aryl and n is 1 to 8. Methods for attaching such organic groups to carbon black are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,554,739 and 5,559,169; U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/356,660 abandoned and Ser. No. 08/572,525; and PCT Published Patent Application Nos. WO 96/18688 and WO 96/18696, all of the disclosures of which are fully incorporated by reference herein.

As stated earlier, the silicon-treated carbon black or metal-treated carbon black may also be modified to have at least one organic group attached to the silicon-treated carbon black. Alternatively, a mixture of silicon-treated carbon black and/or a metal-treated carbon black with a modified carbon black having at least one attached organic group may be used.

Furthermore, it is within the bounds of this application to also use a mixture of silica and silicon-treated carbon black and/or metal-treated carbon black. Also, any combination of additional components with the silicon-treated carbon black or metal-treated carbon black may be used such as one or more of the following:

a) silicon-treated carbon black with an attached organic group optionally treated with silane coupling agents;

b) modified carbon black having an attached organic group;

c) carbon black at least partially coated with silica;

d) silica;

e) modified silica, for example, having an attached coupling group, and/or

f) carbon black.

The term "silica" includes, but is not limited to, silica, precipitated silica, amorphous silica, vitreous silica, flumed silica, fused silica, silicates (e.g., alumino silicates) and other Si containing fillers such as clay, talc, wollastonite, etc. Silicas are commercially available from such sources as Cabot Corporation under the Cab-O-Sil® tradename; PPG Industries under the Hi-Sil and Ceptane tradenames; Rhone-Poulenc under the Zeosil tradename; and Degussa AG under the Ultrasil and Coupsil tradenames.

The elastomeric compounds of the present invention may be prepared from the silicon-treated carbon blacks and/or metal-treated carbon blacks by compounding with any elastomer including those useful for compounding a carbon black.

Any suitable elastomer may be compounded with the silicon-treated carbon blacks and/or metal-treated carbon blacks to provide the elastomeric compounds of the present invention. Such elastomers include, but are not limited to, homo- or co-polymers of 1,3 butadiene, styrene, isoprene, isobutylene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, acrylonitrile, ethylene, and propylene Preferably, the elastomer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) as measured by differential scanning colorimetry (DSC) ranging from about -120° C. to about 0° C. Examples include, but are not limited, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), natural rubber, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and their oil-extended derivatives. Blends of any of the foregoing may also be used.

Among the rubbers suitable for use with the present invention are natural rubber and its derivatives such as chlorinated rubber. The silicon-treated carbon black products or metal-treated carbon black products of the invention may also be used with synthetic rubbers such as: copolymers of from about 10 to about 70 percent by weight of styrene and from about 90 to about 30 percent by weight of butadiene such as copolymer of 19 parts styrene and 81 parts butadiene, a copolymer of 30 parts styrene and 70 parts butadiene, a copolymer of 43 parts styrene and 57 parts butadiene and a copolymer of 50 parts styrene and 50 parts butadiene; polymers and copolymers of conjugated dienes such as polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, and the like, and copolymers of such conjugated dienes with an ethylenic group-containing monomer copolymerizable therewith such as styrene, methyl styrene, chlorostyrene, acrylonitrile, 2-vinyl-pyridine, 5-methyl 2-vinylpyridine, 5-ethyl-2-vinylpyridine, 2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine, alkyl-substituted acrylates, vinyl ketone, methyl isopropenyl ketone, methyl vinyl either, alphamethylene carboxylic acids and the esters and amides thereof such as acrylic acid and diaLkylacrylic acid amide; also suitable for use herein are copolymers of ethylene and other high alpha olefins such as propylene, butene-1 and pentene-1.

The rubber compositions of the present invention can therefore contain an elastomer, curing agents, reinforcing filler, a coupling agent, and, optionally, various processing aids, oil extenders, and antidegradents. In addition to the examples mentioned above, the elastomer can be, but is not limited to, polymers (e.g., homopolymers, copolymers, and terpolymers) manufactured from 1,3 butadiene, styrene, isoprene, isobutylene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3 butadiene, acrylonitrile, ethylene, propylene, and the like. It is preferred that these elastomers have a glass transition point (Tg), as measured by DSC, between -120° C. and 0° C. Examples of such elastomers include poly(butadiene), poly(styrene-co-butadiene), and poly(isoprene).

Elastomeric compositions disclosed in the present invention include, but are not limited to, vulcanized compositions (VR), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and thermoplastic polyolefins (TPO). TPV, TPE, and TPO materials are further classified by their ability to be extruded and molded several times without loss of performance characteristics.

The elastomeric compositions may include one or more curing agents such as, for example, sulfur, sulfur donors, activators, accelerators, peroxides, and other systems used to effect vulcanization of the elastomer composition.

The resultant elastomeric compounds containing the aggregates of the present invention and optionally containing one or more coupling agents may be used for various elastomeric products such as treads for vehicle tires, industrial rubber products, seals, timing belts, power transmission belting, and other rubber goods. When utilized in tires, the elastomeric compounds may be used In the tread or in other components of the tire. For example, the carcass and side wall.

The present invention will be further clarified by the following examples, which are intended to be purely exemplary of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Silicon-treated carbon blacks according to the present invention were prepared using a pilot scale reactor generally as described above, and as depicted in the Fig. having the dimensions set forth below: D₁ =71/4 inches, D₂ =4.5 inches, D₃ =5.3 inches, D₄ =13.5 inches, L₁ =24 inches, L₂ =12 inches, L₂ '=45 inches (for Example OMTS-CB-A') and L₂ '=25 inches (for Examples OMTS-CB-B', C', D', and E') and Q=8.583 feet (for Examples OMTS-CB-A', B' and C'), Q=6.5 feet (for Examples OMTS-CB-D' and E'). The reaction conditions set forth in Table 1 below, were employed.

As shown in the Figure, a first feedstock was introduced at point 6 and a second feed stock was introduced at point 7. The first feedstock contained a hydrocarbon (i.e. carbon black-yielding feedstock) and the second feedstock contained hydrocarbon and OMTS (i.e. a silicon-containing compound), namely octamethyl-cyclotetrasilioxane. This compound is sold as "D4" by Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, Mich. The resultant silicon-treated carbon black is identified herein as OMTS-CB.

Since changes in reactor temperature are known to alter the surface area of the carbon black, and reactor temperature is very sensitive to the total flow rate of the feedstock in the injection zone (zone 3 in the FIG.), the feedstock flow rate was adjusted downward to approximately compensate for the introduction of the volatilizable silicon-containing compound, such that a constant reactor temperature was maintained. This results in an approximately constant external surface area (as measured by t area) for the resultant silicon-treated carbon blacks. All other conditions were maintained as necessary for manufacturing N234 carbon black. A structure control additive (potassium acetate solution) was injected into the feedstock to maintain the specification structure of the N234 carbon black. The flow rate of this additive was maintained constant in making the silicon-treated carbon blacks described throughout the following examples.

The external surface area (t-area) was measured following the samples preparation and measurement procedure described in ASTM D3037--Method A for Nitrogen surface area. For this measurement, the nitrogen adsorption isotherm was extended up to 0.55 relative pressure. The relative pressure is the pressure (P) divided by the saturation pressure (P₀) (the pressure at which the nitrogen condenses). The adsorption layer thickness (t₁) was then calculated using the relation: ##EQU1##

The volume (V) of nitrogen adsorbed was then plotted against t₁. A straight line was then fitted through the data points for t₁ values between 3.9 and 6.2 Angstroms. The t-area was then obtained from the slope of this line as follows:

    t-area, m.sup.2 /gm=15.47×slope

                  TABLE 1     ______________________________________     CONDITIONS     OMTS-CB-    A'       B'     C'     D'   E'     ______________________________________     Air Rate kscfh                 60       60     60     60   60     Gas Rate, kscfh                 4.9      4.9    4.9    4.9  4.9     Feedstock Rate at                 351      373    381    488  284     point 6, lbs/hr     Feedstock Rate at                 287      305    312    163  418     point 7, lbs/hr     OMTS rate at                 22.2     50.2   50.2   46.6 46     point 7, lbs/hr     ______________________________________

The analytical properties of the silicon-treated carbon black are provided in Table 2. The various formulations and the mixing procedure used to produce the rubber compound using these silicon-treated carbon blacks are described in Tables 3 and 4. The performance of the silicon-treated carbon blacks are described in Table 5. It is seen that the aggregates of the present invention made using the process described above result in a 6-10% improvement (compared to conventional carbon black) in wet skid resistance as measured by the British Portable Skid Tester.

The wet skid resistance (or wet traction) was measured by means of an improved British Portable Skid Tester (BPST) with the procedure reported by Ouyang et al. (G. B. Ouyang, N. Tokita, and C. H. Shieh, "Carbon Black Effects on Friction Properties of Tread Compound-Using a modified ASTM-E303 Pendulum Skid Tester", presented at a meeting of Rubber Division, ACS, Denver, Colo., May 18-21, 1993). The friction coefficients are referenced to carbon black N234-filled compound (100%). The higher the number, the higher (better) is the wet skid resistance.

                  TABLE 2     ______________________________________     Analytical Properties of Carbon Blacks                        BET area   t-area                                        CDBP     Filler      Si %   (N.sub.2) m.sup.2 /g                                   m.sup.2 /g                                        mL/100 g     ______________________________________     N234        0.00   121.0      119.0                                        100.7     OMTS-CB-A'  1.99   139.0      119.6                                        94.3     OMTS-CB-B'  4.54   176.2      124.6                                        101.7     OMTS-CB-C'  3.27   176.2      123.8                                        100.6     OMTS-CB-D'  4.40   171.4      124.1                                        99.1     OMTS-CB-E'  4.40   168.5      123.8                                        100.7     ______________________________________

                  TABLE 3     ______________________________________     Formulation                       N234 D4-CB     ______________________________________     SSBR (Duradene 715) 75     75     BR (Tacktene 1203)  25     25     N234                75     --     OMTS-CB             --     75     Si 69               --     3     Oil (Sundex 8125)   25     25     Zinc Oxide          3.5    3.5     Stearic Acid        2      2     Antioxident (Flexzone 7P)                         1.5    1.5     Wax (Sunproof Improved)                         1.5    1.5     Durax ®         1.5    1.5     Vanax ® DPG.sup.a                         --     1     TMTD.sup.b          0.4    0.4     Sulfur              1.4    1.4     ______________________________________      .sup.a Accelerator, diphenyl guanidine.      .sup.b Accelerator, tetramethyl thiuram disulfide.

                  TABLE 4     ______________________________________     Mixing Procedure for Tread Compounds of Passenger Tire     ______________________________________     Stage 1    Brabender Plasti-corder EPL-V.                60 rpm, 80° C., air on, start all mixes @ 100°                C.     0'         Add polymer     1'         Add filler, coupling agents (Preblended)     @ 160° C.                Add oil.     7' @ 165° C.                Dump.                Pass through open mill 3 times.                Sit at room temperature for at least 2 hrs.     Stage 2    60 rpm, 80° C., air on, start all mixes @ 100°                C.     0'         Add masterbatch from stage 1.     1'         Add ZnO, Stearic acid.     3'         Add Flexzone 7P and Wax.     4', @ 165° C.                Dump                Pass through open mill 3 times.                Sit at room temperature for at least 2 hrs.     Stage 3    35 rpm, 80° C. air on, start all mixes @ 100°                C.     0'         Add masterbatch from stage 2.     1'         Add curatives.     2+         Dump.                Pass through open mill 3 times.     ______________________________________

                  TABLE 5     ______________________________________     Physical Properties of Vulcanizates            Se 69                 Wet skid  tan δ     Filler   phr    Resistance %                               0° C.                                     70° C.                                           wear 14% slip     ______________________________________     N234     0.0    100       0.470 0.260 100     OMTS-CB-A'              3.0    110       0.414 0.195 105     OMTS-CB-B'              3.0    110       0.387 0.162 102     OMTS-CB-C'              3.0    108       0.394 0.173 113     OMTS-CB-D'              3.0    110       0.370 0.156 119     OMTS-CB-E'              3.0    106       0.383 0.146 116     ______________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of making an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase, said method comprising the steps of:a) introducing a first feedstock into a first stage of a multi-stage reactor; b) introducing a second feedstock into said multi-stage reactor at a location downstream of said first stage, wherein each of said first feedstock and said second feedstock comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock, further wherein at least one of said first feedstock or said second feedstock additionally comprises a silicon-containing compound; c) operating said reactor at a temperature sufficient to decompose said silicon-containing compound and to pyrolize said carbon black-yielding feedstock; and, d) recovering said aggregate.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first feedstock comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein each feedstock comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock and a silicon-containing compound.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first feedstock comprises a silicon-containing compound.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first feedstock comprises a silicon-containing compound and said second feedstock comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least about 5% by weight of the total amount of carbon-black yielding feedstock used in said method is present in the first feedstock.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein from about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight of the total amount of carbon black-yielding feedstock used in said method is present in said first feedstock.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein from about 40% by weight to about 80% by weight of the total amount of carbon black-yielding feedstock used in said method is present in said first feedstock.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first feedstock comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock and said second feedstock comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock and a silicon-containing compound.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one feedstock further comprises a boron-containing compound.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein carbon black, silica, or a mixture thereof are additionally recovered.
 12. A method of making an aggregate comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase, said method comprising:introducing a first feedstock into a first stage of a multi-stage reactor having at least three stages for introducing feedstocks; introducing at least a second and third feedstock into said reactor at a location downstream of said first stage; wherein at least one of the feedstocks comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock and at least one of the feedstocks comprises a silicon-containing compound; and wherein said reactor has a sufficient temperature to decompose said silicon-containing compound and to form carbon black from the carbon black-yielding feedstock.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein each feedstock comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein each feedstock comprises a mixture of a carbon black-yielding feedstock and a silicon-containing compound.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein said third feedstock consists essentially of a silicon-containing compound.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein said second and third feedstocks comprise a mixture of a silicon-containing compound and a carbon black-yielding feedstock.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein at least 5% by weight of the total amount of carbon black-yielding feedstock used in said method is present in the first feedstock.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein from about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight of the total amount of carbon black-yielding feedstock used in said method is present in said first feedstock.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein from about 40% by weight to about 80% by weight of the total amount of carbon black-yielding feedstock in said method is present in said first feedstock.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein a carbon black-yielding feedstock is present in said first feedstock and in said second feedstock.
 21. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one feedstock further comprises a boron-containing compound.
 22. The method of claim 12, wherein carbon black, silica, or a mixture thereof are additionally recovered.
 23. A method of making an aggregate comprising a carbon phase, a metal-containing species phase, and optionally a silicon-containing species phase, said method comprising the steps of:a) introducing a first feedstock into a first stage of a multi-stage reactor; b) introducing at least a second feedstock into said multi-stage reactor at a second stage located downstream of said first stage, wherein at least one feedstock comprises a carbon black-yielding feedstock; at least one feedstock comprises at least one decomposable or volatalizable metal-containing compound; and optionally, at least one feedstock further comprises a silicon-containing compound; c) operating said reactor at a temperature sufficient to decompose or volatilize said metal-containing compound, to pyrolize said carbon black-yielding feedstock, and, if present, to decompose said silicon-containing compound; and, d) recovering said aggregate.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said metal-containing compound is a compound comprising aluminum, zinc, magnesium, calcium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, nickel, zirconium, tin, antimony, chromium, neodymium, lead, tellurium, barium, cesium, iron, molybdenum, or mixtures thereof.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein said metal-containing species phase exists primarily at the surface of said aggregate.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein said metal-containing species phase is distributed throughout said aggregate.
 27. The method of claim 23, wherein said metal-containing species phase is oxidized.
 28. The method of claim 23, wherein said metal-containing species phase comprises from about 0.1% to about 25% elemental metal, by weight of said aggregate.
 29. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one feedstock comprises at least two different metal-containing compounds.
 30. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one feedstock further comprises a boron-containing compound.
 31. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of said first feedstock and said second feedstock comprises a silicon-containing compound, further wherein said aggregate comprises from about 0.1% to about 25% silicon, by weight of said aggregate.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein said metal-containing species phase and said silicon-containing species phase cumulatively comprise from about 0.1% to about 25% by weight of said aggregate.
 33. The method of claim 23, said method comprising at least three stages where feedstock is introduced into said, multi-stage reactor, wherein the feedstock at each stage comprises at least one ofa) a carbon black-yielding feedstock; b) at least one decomposable or volatalizable metal-containing compound; and optionally, c) a silicon-containing compound; further wherein such feedstocks cumulatively comprise at least a carbon black-yielding feedstock and at least one decomposable or volatalizable metal-containing compound.
 34. The method of claim 23, wherein carbon black, a metal oxide, or a mixture thereof are additionally recovered. 